The St. Louis Cardinals stayed alive in the NLDS with a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Monday. With the victory, the Cardinals evened the series at two games apiece and forced a Game 5 in St. Louis on Wednesday.
Cardinals vs. Pirates NLDS Game 4 final score: Cards stay alive with 2-1 win
Michael Wacha carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, helping St. Louis avoid elimination and force a Game 5.
Starting pitcher Michael Wacha was the star for the Cardinals, as he carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning and allowed only three baserunners overall. The no-hitter was broken up with one out in the eighth when Pedro Alvarez swatted a home run to right-center field:
Russell Martin was the only other Pirate to reach base against the 22-year-old right-hander, as he drew walks in both the sixth and eighth innings. His walk in the eighth knocked Wacha out of the game with a final line of 7⅓ innings, one run, one hit, two walks, and nine strikeouts.
The Cardinals didn't fare much better against Pittsburgh starter Charlie Morton through the first five innings, as they collected only two hits and two walks of their own. In the sixth, however, St. Louis finally got to the right-hander. Carlos Beltran led off the frame with his second walk of the game, and Matt Holliday followed by blasting a two-run homer.
The long ball would prove to be all the scoring that St. Louis needed, as the two runs held up for the rest of the game. Carlos Martinez relieved Wacha in the eighth inning, and right-hander Trevor Rosenthal allowed just a walk in the ninth to seal the victory and earn his first postseason save.
The series concludes on Wednesday. A.J. Burnett is expected to face Adam Wainwright in a Game 1 re-match in St. Louis. First pitch is scheduled for 5:07 p.m. ET.
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